Lawsuit Attempts to Keep Gogebic Co. Prison Open

Updated: September 17, 2018 05:32 PM

MARENISCO TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - A township in Michigan's Upper Peninsula is suing to stop the closing of a prison.

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Marenisco Township in Gogebic County says the state didn't do an economic-impact study as required by law. But a judge on Monday rejected a request for a restraining order. The Corrections Department in August announced plans to close the Ojibway prison in the months ahead.

The prison has 203 employees, including some who live in Wisconsin. Local officials say closing the prison would greatly harm the economy.

Corrections Department spokesman Chris Gautz declined to comment on the lawsuit, although he says department officials know the economic impact is significant. Ari Adler, a spokesman for Gov. Rick Snyder, says the state is following up on recent meetings about economic-development efforts in the area.